April 22,23 – Lyrids Meteor Shower – average shower, up to 20 meteors per hour at peak, but obstructed by the light of the almost full moon Carl McColman (2002). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Paganism. Indianapolis, IN: Alpha. p.121. ISBN 9780028642666. The ancient pagan peoples of Europe differed in the festivals they celebrated. In the British Isles, the Anglo-Saxons primarily celebrated the four solstices and equinoxes, while Insular Celtic peoples primarily celebrated the four midpoints between these. [4] [ need quotation to verify] The four Celtic festivals were known to the Gaels as Beltane (1 May), Lughnasadh (1 August), Samhain (1 November) and Imbolc (1 February). Lyle, Emily (2008). "Time and the Indo-European Gods in the Slavic Context" (PDF). Studia Mythologica Slavica. 11: 115–126. doi: 10.3986/sms.v11i0.1691. When I was growing up, I always thought Beltane was the coolest, but that’s because I thought of it only as the holiday in which you lit a bonfire and went and made love in the woods.

For Wiccans, Lughnasadh is marks when the god’s power begins to decline. And, for some pagans, it’s the time when the Celtic Sun God Lugh transfers his power to the grain. When the grain is harvested and baked into bread, his cycle of life is complete. The greater sabbats or cross-quarter days fall approximately halfway between the greater sabbats and have origins in Celtic traditions. They include: Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain. Mabon is a Wiccan holiday, but it’s also the date of the fall equinox. This is the second of two days each year (Ostara is the other) when daytime and nighttime are equal length. Since the Christianisation of Europe, a more secular version of the festival has continued in Europe and America, commonly referred to as May Day. In this form, it is well known for maypole dancing and the crowning of the Queen of the May. May Day is also celebrated by decorated and dancing around the maypole (representing the male aspect). And, it’s believed that, like at Samhain, the veil between the living and the spirit world is thinner. For Wiccans, this Sabbat is also a holiday of love and romance and when the God and Goddess come together.For some Wiccans and other pagans, Imbolg is also the time to honor the goddess Brigid. So, you might also see this holiday referred to as Brigid’s Day or even simply just Brigid. If for pagans the spring equinox represents a sexual union, the autumn equinox is a mystical one. Reincarnation and the spiral of life are strong themes too: seed and grain, life and death, womb and tomb. Through understanding these mysteries of nature, the God reaches a state of mystical enlightenment and enters the underworld. Here the God dwells with the Goddess, now the ‘hag’, the queen of the underworld. Samhain Full moon–Storm Moonat 9:43 am.Use this month’s moon phase to celebrate balance, rebirth, and renewal. Starhawk (1979, 1989) The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess. New York, Harper and Row ISBN 0-06-250814-8 pp.193-6 (revised edition) a b c d e f Drury, Nevill (2009). "The Modern Magical Revival: Esbats and Sabbats". In Pizza, Murphy; Lewis, James R (eds.). Handbook of Contemporary Paganism. Leiden, Netherlands: Brill Publishers. pp.63–67. ISBN 9789004163737.

Eight holidays a year might seem like a lot, but these sacred days are some of the best to be a Wiccan. By following the Wheel of the Year, our lives become more in sync with the rhythms of nature and the universe. Plus, the eight Wiccan sabbats offer a wonderful overview of the world of Wicca. How will you be celebrating in 2021? Raven Grimassi (2000). Encyclopedia of Wicca & Witchcraft. St Paul, Minnesota: Llewellyn Worldwide. p.219. ISBN 9781567182576. As the spring equinox brings balance to the planet, this month is also a time to bring balance into our lives. Celebrate the spring! Wheel of the Year Shirt, Pagan Wheel of the Year, Gift for Witch, Wiccan Gifts, Wheel of the Year Calendar, Gift for Witches, Pagan Gifts Imbolg is the first Wiccan holiday of 2021, and it always falls on February 1st. This year, that date is a Monday.If you choose to celebrate the festivals on the Wiccan calendar, how you choose to do so is up to you. If you’re part of a coven, you and your fellow witches may have follow certain rituals and customs connected to the holiday. If you are a solitary practitioner, take the time to learn about each Sabbat and learn about the colors, foods, and decorations associated with each.